[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 243 (Tuesday, December 18, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74879-74880]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-30399]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Explosive Materials and Blasting Units in 
Metal and Nonmetal Underground Gassy Mines

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Mine Safety 
and Health Administration (MSHA) sponsored information collection 
request (ICR) titled, ``Explosive Materials and Blasting Units in Metal 
and Nonmetal Underground Gassy Mines,'' to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review and approval for continued use in accordance 
with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et 
seq.).

DATES: Submit comments on or before January 17, 2013.

ADDRESSES: A copy of this ICR with applicable supporting documentation, 
including a description of the likely respondents, proposed frequency 
of response, and estimated total burden may be obtained from the 
RegInfo.gov Web site, http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain, on the 
day following publication of this notice or by contacting Michel Smyth 
by telephone at 202-693-4129 (this is not a toll-free number) or 
sending an email to [email protected].
    Submit comments about this request to the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for DOL-MSHA, Office of 
Management and Budget, Room 10235, 725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 
20503, Fax: 202-395-6881 (this is not a toll-free number), email: 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michel Smyth by telephone at 202-693-
4129 (this is not a toll-free number) or by email at [email protected].

    Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3507(a)(1)(D).

[[Page 74880]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under Regulations 30 CFR parts 7 and 15, the 
MSHA evaluates and approves explosive materials and blasting units as 
permissible for use in the mining industry; however, since there are no 
permissible explosives or blasting units available that have adequate 
blasting capacity for some metal and nonmetal gassy mines, 30 CFR 
57.22606(a) outlines the procedures for a mine operator to follow when 
using non-approved explosive materials and blasting units. The standard 
requires the mine operator of a Class III metal or nonmetal mine (gassy 
mine) to notify the MSHA in writing prior to the use of any non-
approved explosive materials and blasting units. The MSHA then 
evaluates the non-approved explosive materials and determines whether 
they are safe for use in a potentially gassy environment.
    This information collection is subject to the PRA. A Federal agency 
generally cannot conduct or sponsor a collection of information, and 
the public is generally not required to respond to an information 
collection, unless it is approved by the OMB under the PRA and displays 
a currently valid OMB Control Number. In addition, notwithstanding any 
other provisions of law, no person shall generally be subject to 
penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information that 
does not display a valid Control Number. See 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 
1320.6. The DOL obtains OMB approval for this information collection 
under Control Number 1219-0051. The current approval is scheduled to 
expire on February 28, 2013; however, it should be noted that existing 
information collection requirements submitted to the OMB receive a 
month-to-month extension while they undergo review. For additional 
information, see the related notice published in the Federal Register 
on September 19, 2012 (77 FR 58173).
    Interested parties are encouraged to send comments to the OMB, 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the address shown in 
the ADDRESSES section within 30 days of publication of this notice in 
the Federal Register. In order to help ensure appropriate 
consideration, comments should mention OMB Control Number 1219-0051. 
The OMB is particularly interested in comments that:
     Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
     Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 
burden of the proposed collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
     Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
     Minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting 
electronic submission of responses.
    Agency: DOL-MSHA.
    Title of Collection: Explosive Materials and Blasting Units in 
Metal and Nonmetal Underground Gassy Mines.
    OMB Control Number: 1219-0051.
    Affected Public: Private Sector--businesses or other for-profits.
    Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 1.
    Total Estimated Number of Responses: 1.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 1.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $6.

    Dated: December 11, 2012.
Michel Smyth,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-30399 Filed 12-17-12; 8:45 am]
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